Re: Remembrance Sunday

[Anonymous]

white poppies remember all those losses of war – civillian (well over 10 million children included) and animal too and remind us that war and violence are not the way to solve our problems.  they came about after the british leigion refused to remember the non-military casualties of war.  it was the womens movement of the time which first really pushed this view that war was wrong.  the symbol of the red poppy was originally made and sold to raise funds for the innocent children who were disadvantaged through war and then to help those who were forced to sign up – however it has now become for supporting the people who knowingly and willingly train as killers and go to fight.

should the army be “funky and cool” focussing on less brutal language and weapons drills to appeal to 14yr olds ??  you might expect this in some countries but here in the UK it happens too 🙁

quote :

On a stormy winter day, 38 schoolchildren gather at Fulwood Barracks in Preston. They are mainly Year 11 pupils – aged between 14 and 16 – and they have been bussed over from a poorly performing comprehensive in a deprived part of a nearby town for an encounter day with the Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment.

The four teachers who have come along with them seem apprehensive. Many of these kids, they say, can be unruly; others are quiet but don’t perform well in class. Warrant Officer Nick Froehling, however, is young, friendly and easy going. Within minutes he has the children doing rifle drill, shifting model SA80s from shoulder to arm’s length and back down to “at ease” – although Froehling doesn’t say “At ease”. He prefers the order “Chill”.